Falcons Batter Billikens In 59-50 Triumph

Saturday, January 2

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Saint Louis

January 02, 2010 | Men's Basketball

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore
Otis Polk Postgame Audio
Louis Orr Postgame Audio

Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green men's basketball team returned home from a month on the road to pick up its biggest win of the season with a stifling defensive effort to beat legendary coach Rick Majerus and the St. Louis Billikens 59-50 Saturday evening at Anderson Arena.

Bowling Green held St. Louis' starting five scoreless in the first half and held the Billikens to just 15 points and 35 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes as the Falcons set the tone early. The Orange and Brown were the more aggressive and physical team, using a trapping defense to force 19 St. Louis turnovers. The Falcons held a 26-14 advantage on points in the paint and held St. Louis scoreless for almost seven minutes to start the game.

BGSU never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 9-0 lead behind a pair of baskets by Otis Polk, a three-pointer from Scott Thomas, and an Erik Marschall lay-up. St. Louis never got closer than seven the rest of the way. The Falcons led 24-15 at the half and extended the lead to as many as 20 points in the second half before a late run cut the final deficit to nine.

Polk finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, ending just one rebound shy of his second consecutive double-double. Marschall added 11 points and seven rebounds and Marc Larson came off the bench to finish with eight points and nine rebounds. Those three combined for 11 offensive rebounds and five blocked shots as well.

Dee Brown added 12 points and five rebounds, while Jordon Crawford came off the bench to score eight and add three assists and two steals.

St. Louis' top two scorers, Kwamain Mitchell and Willie Reed, were shut down from the beginning and the pair combined to shoot just 5-of-18 from the floor. Reed entered the game averaging almost a double-double and he finished with just four points and no rebounds. The lone bright spot for St. Louis was Jon Smith, who came off the bench for 11 points and four blocked shots, making all five of his field-goal attempts.

Bowling Green entered the contest as one of the worst free-throw shooting teams in the country but the Falcons made 18-of-21 to keep St. Louis from getting any closer by fouling late.

The Falcons improve to 4-1 at home on the season with the win but it was the first time the team played in Anderson Arena since a 59-51 win over Savannah State on Dec. 3. It was also the team's final non-conference game before opening defense of its Mid-American Conference regular season title.

St. Louis falls to 9-5 with the loss and Bowling Green improves to 7-5. The Falcons will play preseason MAC favorite Akron on the road Saturday at 7:00 p.m. A year ago, Bowling Green won a critical late season contest at Akron 50-46 on the way to the league title.